LOCAL therapist Giuliana Fenwick raised £1,485 for children with special needs at Foxes Academy after their funding was cut,

Giuliana who specialises in treating people with special needs announced at the end of May she would donate a day’s wages and asked friends, family and strangers to sponsor her.

To make donating easier, Giuliana set up a Just Giving page with a target of £300 to be reached within three weeks.

Giuliana said: "As many of you know the government has slashed budgets and made it very difficult for young people with learning difficulties or special needs to get funding. This funding helps them to achieve their full potentials and contribute to the workplace in the same way as any young person could expect.

“So moved have I become by many of the stories and journeys of the children and young adults I work with that I decided in June to raise money to help them.

“It was nerve wracking because I had never attempted anything like this before but all I could see in my head were the little faces of those I work with every day and how hard they try to contribute to our often harsh society. I had to do something to help, however small.”

Local children helped by making posters and spreading the message through Facebook.

Added Giuliana: "“I am so grateful to anyone who has supported me and has helped me to help these wonderful children to fulfil some of their dreams.”

Giuliana has developed a special head massage technique for children with learning difficulties and special needs. The technique is so successful that she won a publishing contract for three books, with the first due to be published in November.